FarewellsArchbishop John paid tribute to the Archdeacon of Llandaff, Peggy Jackson, who was retiring after 12 years serving in the Church in Wales. She had been best known as one of the champions of women’s ministry, he said, thanking her and wishing her well.Archdeacon Peggy said she had been privileged to be part of the Church “at a most exciting period with women coming into the episcopate and the Church changing a great deal, all for the good.” The highlights had been at the Governing Body, she said, “sharing in the debates and feeling we are contributing to the future of the church.”Presidential AddressThe Church was on track to be more inclusive, better organised and equipped and more focused on outreach, said the Archbishop in his final address to members,While acknowledging there was still much to be done, Archbishop John, who retires on May 2, gave thanks for progress that had been made.Archbishop John said he had been “immensely grateful” and “privileged” to have served in the Church for most of his life and on the Governing Body for more than 40 years - as a layman, a deacon, a priest, a bishop and, for the past four years, as Archbishop.Referring to a vision for the Church set out at the time of its disestablishment more than 100 years ago by Lord Justice Bankes who helped frame its first Constitution, Archbishop John said that, while there had been failures, there was also a “joyful sense” of the vision being revived.He said, “None of us ever know whether our words, our actions, our images have encouraged or awakened a single soul let alone a whole church. But as I now come to the end of this address at this, my final meeting of the Governing Body, I give thanks for so much that is beginning to seem more possible, even more probable, as set out in John Bankes’s vision for our part of Christ’s church here in Wales.”You can read Archbishop John’s full address here:https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-events/i-have-a-joyful-sense-church-vision-is-being-revived-archbishop/Retirement of the ArchbishopThe Archbishop of Canterbury joined the meeting to pay tribute to Archbishop John and to thank him for his contribution to the Anglican Communion, particularly as a member of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council.“I have really enjoyed working with him and have been grateful for the number of gifts he has brought to the Church,” he said. “I am grateful for his legal skills, for speaking for parts of the Communion whose voice is not always heard and for making us listen.”Archbishop Justin said he was very sorry the pandemic had prevented his visit to Wales last year to mark the centenary of the Church in Wales. He would miss Archbishop John “as a friend and as someone you can ring up and chew over things with”.In his tribute, the chief executive, Simon Lloyd, pointed out that Archbishop John had served on Governing Body for nearly 40 years – in turn as a co-opted lay representative, a deacon, priest, bishop and Archbishop.“It is rare, possibly unprecedented, for the President of the GB to have served on it in all three orders. And similarly rare for someone to clock up nearly 40 years’ service,” he said. “Archbishop, as you retire, the GB will lose the benefit of your deep knowledge of its proceedings, your humour, your wisdom and, of course, your anecdotes.”Mr Lloyd said Archbishop John’s attention to staff at the Provincial Office was valued and appreciated. “We will miss you enormously but the main thing I want to say this afternoon is thank you. Thank you, as its lay secretary, on behalf of the Governing Body, thank you, on behalf of the RB and its staff and thank you, as me, for all we have done together, for your leadership, your support. And your friendship.”The Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, travelled to Brecon Cathedral for an outside broadcast of the meeting to present Archbishop John with gifts on behalf of the bishops and the Governing Body. These included a specially commissioned painting of the chancel of the cathedral.Bishop Andy paid tribute to the Archbishop’s work as Bishop of Swansea and Brecon and to his national role as Archbishop of Wales. He also thanked Archbishop John’s family – his wife, Jo, daughter Kate and son Christopher.“Being a public figure, a leader in community can be demanding even relentless. And when the times have been their busiest and the challenges most pressing, you are the ones who will have felt not only the pinch of time but seen the costs to the man you love,” he said.Bishop Andy said all his colleagues owed Archbishop John a debt of gratitude. “As colleagues, especially in the loss of most of the centenary celebrations, we have been conscious that you have needed to hold a space which has been challenging. In this time, you have been the steady, pretty unflappable leader we knew you would be. But into the mix it has been your personal warmth, wit, superb story telling ability and your huge positivity – personal traits, that have been perhaps most needed and most important. We owe you a debt of gratitude for standing in the gap and for that the Church in Wales is profoundly grateful.”Responding, Archbishop John thanked colleagues past and present, provincial staff and all the Governing Body members. He ended his final meeting with a prayer and a blessing.WorshipArrangements for worship were made by the Archdeacon of St Davids, Paul Mackness, who coordinated arrangements on behalf of the worship co-ordinator, Fr John Connell, who was not able to be present.The Archdeacon of Margam, Mike Komor, led the opening prayers on Wednesday.Evening Prayer was led by Canon Marianne Osborne.Morning Prayer on Thursday was led by Canon Dylan Williams.VisitorsRepresentatives from Cytûn and other Churches were welcomed to the Governing Body:Canon Aled Edwards - Chief Executive Officer, Cytûn & the Covenanted Churches in WalesPeredur Griffiths - Faith and Witness Enabler, Cytûn & the Covenanted Churches in WalesThe Revd Dr Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist ChurchThe Revd Mark Fairweather Tall, Regional Minister, South Wales Baptist AssociationNext meetingThe next meeting of the Governing Body will take place on September 6-8.>back to top